Timbuk2 Shift Pannier Bag

Timbuk2 -- long a dominant force in the messenger-bag market -- has finally entered the bicycle touring realm with their Shift Pannier Messenger bag.

The panniers are styled almost identically to their popular Classic Messenger bag, with the addition of aluminum pannier clips that attach to just about any rack, and will tuck out of the way when the bag transitions from your bike to your back. For carrying the bag off the bike, you'll find a removable shoulder strap to make things easier.

The material is a tough ballistic nylon that resists tearing very well; inside, you'll find a waterproof liner that helps keep your belongings dry on rainy days. The bag is also pretty good for those particular about organizing their belongings, with a 15-inch pocket for a laptop or books, in addition to three pockets that zip up for smaller items, such as toiletries, a phone, or other miscellaneous items you want to keep easily within reach.

For sizing, this bag is only available in medium, measuring about 14 inches wide, 10 inches tall, and 5 inches deep. It's a pretty good size for maintaining a proper heel clearance when pedaling. Unfortunately, there is not currently an option to customize the color scheme on these bags; for now, your choice is black or a red/gunmetal option.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of Adventure Cycling's member services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Low and Slow

I truly feel sorry for people who have only observed the world from the seat of a speeding car. It all becomes a blur ... literally.

The pace of bicycle travel suites me. But even pedaling can propel you too quickly through your surroundings. To experience the intense beauty of nature, sometimes you've got to get off your bike and wallow in it.

While cycling around Crater Lake, my buddy Thomas and I came upon a huge field of dirt and rocks.


At least from a speeding car that's all you'd have seen. Especially after the grand scenic views of the lake. But at bicycle speed you could still have missed the beauty. Just some flashes of color.

It wasn't until I got off my bike and onto my belly (I was already sweaty and dirty, anyway) that I experienced the beauty of this place. Among the dirt and rocks were thousands of tiny wildflowers. Little explosions of color. In this mountain climate the flowers were tiny, most barely reaching more than a couple of inches above the dry earth. Yet up close their beauty rivaled that of anything we'd encountered on our trip.

While some prefer fast and furious ... I prefer low and slow.

Photos: Crater Lake, OR 2010 by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

Corporate Supporter Spotlight: ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours

This post is part of a series that spotlights Adventure Cycling's corporate supporters. These companies support our mission and programs and do some pretty cool things of their own. We decided to ask them some questions and, as a result, have learned some really interesting things. The answers below are direct from the companies. We hope that this gives you the chance to get to know them a little better, too.

ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, a silver-level member, is one of our newer corporate members. Maria Elena Price, co-owner, took time to answer some of our questions and tell us more about her company.


Adventure Cycling: Tell us a little bit about your company.


Maria Elena: We are a bicycle tour company that organizes bicycling vacations in Europe and Latin America. Our trips are one- to two-week-long tours (and a few month-long or longer trips thrown in there as well) and are fully-supported, guided tours that take people to some of the top bicycling destinations in the world. Cycling is the key to our rides, and most itineraries have you traveling by bicycle from one comfortable, cozy hotel to the next. We also ensure that travelers have time for sightseeing and exploring on all our tours – it isn’t a race!

Our classic destinations include the Bike Across Italy tour from Venice to Pisa (or Pisa to Venice!), established in 1972 by the parents of current owners. Since then, the tour has changed a bit, but it is still one of our most popular trips – after all, cycling cross-country holds a great sense of accomplishment! France, Spain, Argentina, and Germany are just a few of the other countries we take bicycle travelers to. All of our trips are designed so travelers set their own pace (navigating with our signature chalk arrows) and enjoy central, locally owned accommodations at the end of the day – wonderful guides, fabulous local cuisine, and great bikes.

The ExperiencePlus! office in Ft. Collins, CO

Adventure Cycling: Talk about what services or products you provide for bicycle tourists.

Maria Elena: All our trips are fully-supported (accommodations, van support, guides, and navigation). We include the bicycle rental with the tour and offer some of the best bicycle touring fleets in the business.

Adventure Cycling: Why do you support Adventure Cycling through corporate membership?

Maria Elena: We feel that bicycle travel is incredibly important, and any organization that is dedicated to furthering the use and infrastructure of bicycles (and especially traveling by bike) is important. Many of our customers have never taken a bicycle vacation when they first join us on tour – ultimately, we are in the business of converting people to love bicycle travel, and Adventure Cycling is too.

Adventure Cycling: What are your five favorite cycling-related things right now?

Maria Elena:

1. It seems more people are aware that a bicycle is a great way not to just work out but also to travel and use at home.
2. The bicycle industry is making it easier and easier to be a commuter – bikes with racks, fenders, and appropriate gearing. Also, great examples and lists of “best cities for biking” make other communities want to improve.
3. Here in Fort Collins, Colorado, a number of streets have been converted from four to two lanes to make room for bike lanes. And we have our first “sharrows” just this summer. Educating motorists and bicyclists alike seems to be a priority for more cities.
4. Professional bicycle racing is returning to Colorado this summer; we are quite excited.
5. Our new Ti road bike fleet in Europe for those who come on tour and want road bikes!

Adventure Cycling: Where would you like to see cycling in America be in five years?

Maria Elena:

• More bike and shared lanes.
• School programs that have our youth back outside riding to school and for fun, and educating them on safe cycling habits
• More bike libraries and bike share programs, so if you are traveling a bike is always available.
• A regular part of everyone’s day.
• More incentives from companies to get their employees biking to work.

Staff helping customers in the ExperiencePlus! shop

Adventure Cycling: What is your favorite service or program that Adventure Cycling offers?

Maria Elena: Advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, resources for bicycle travel. Enjoy Bike Bits every month; there is always something to amuse or amaze. Also, Adventure Cyclist magazine keeps the hopes and dreams of that next trip alive and thriving.

Adventure Cycling: As your company grows, have you had mainly tailwinds, headwinds, or crosswinds? Please explain.

Maria Elena: The travel and tourism industry has certainly seen all kinds of different winds. 9/11 and the recent recession are two examples of times when we had to pull back and reconsider and focus on who we are and what we do best. Fortunately, these times (like headwinds) ultimately make you stronger, so as the winds start to shift we are prepared and ready as a much stronger company to continue offering our best product – quality cycling vacations in Europe and Latin America – to our travelers.

Adventure Cycling: Have any of your staff ridden Adventure Cycling’s mapped routes? Which ones?

Maria Elena: Yes, the Great Parks route from Walden, Colorado, to Lake Louise in Canada. Some of us are aspiring to do the cross-country ride as well, as soon as we can find time….

Adventure Cycling: What do you like best about the magazine (other than having your logo appear)?

Maria Elena: The photographs and articles are incredibly inspirational – in fact, they make us all want to jump on our bikes, leave our email behind, and go explore.

ExperiencePlus! staff in Italy

Adventure Cycling: What cycling-related benefits do you offer your staff?

Maria Elena: We have a variety of programs and partnerships with bicycle product distributors that benefit our staff, but we also try and encourage bicycle commuting by providing 2 bike credits ($2) a day to each person who does bike to work (or walk or take alternative transportation). These credits are then used to purchase bikes and other bicycle products. Also, we do get to go on our own tours – so part of our “work” is going on a bicycle tour in Europe or Latin America (not a bad gig).

Adventure Cycling: Is there anything else about your company that you really want to share with our readers?

Maria Elena: We plan our itineraries a lot like you would – you actually get to travel by bicycle and you don’t have to get in the van if you don’t want to for 90% of our itineraries. Follow our chalk dust arrows and keep your mind on the beauty that surrounds you or on your next gelato stop. Our company is chalk full of people who love to share their passion for travel by bicycle.

Thanks to Maria Elena for taking some time to share her company with us! ExperiencePlus! has generously offered a free jersey to any Adventure Cycling member who signs up for one of their tours. Simply mention your membership during registration and they will hook you up! To learn more about their tours and their company, visit their website, find them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is typically posted on Fridays by Amy Corbin, membership and marketing coordinator. Membership Highlights spotlights the various benefits of membership, what we have accomplished thanks to member support, and even interviews with some of our most passionate and dedicated members, both individual and organizational.

2011 Bronx Lab School Bicycle Tour – Life Beyond Our Comfort Zone

It's July! Time for our annual Bronx Lab School trip report from our dear friend and loyal supporter, Chuck Harmon of Dublin, Ohio.

Four years ago, I was asked to help create and lead a bicycle tour of the Ohio portion of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route for a group of eight students and three adults from the Bronx Lab School, a public high school in New York. My initial inclination was to say “NO.” My reservations included the following:

• Although I have participated in many bicycle tours, I had never led one.

• I doubted my ability to relate well to teenagers from an urban environment.

• I feared what might happen if someone got hurt.

• Did I have the organizational skills to arrange for programming, nightly stops, bathroom breaks, and evening activities?

• What would happen if someone got lost?

• If someone had a problem on the road, could I find them and did I have enough problem-solving skills to get the problem resolved?

• Would I need to take responsibility for getting everyone fed and sufficiently hydrated?

• Who were the adults that were to accompany the students and how much could I rely on them to help shoulder these responsibilities?

Clearly, there were many reasons to say “NO,” but then I remembered a poem that I had read (author unknown), which is partially reprinted here:

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail. The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail. I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before, But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I realized that, despite my doubts and my lack of experience as a tour leader, I had some experience that put me in a better position to lead this tour than others. I had served as the route researcher and coordinated the mapping for the Ohio portion of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. In doing so, I had made contacts with travel and tourism professionals, museum curators, and others who could be helpful in creating programming and fun events that would enrich the students' tour. This, along with some encouragement from my family, gave me the courage to say “YES.” However, a “YES” from me was not what made this tour go.

The people who stretched the most beyond their comfort zones were the student participants and their families. Consider:

• Many of these students had not previously been away from their families for such a period of time.

• Bicycling had not been a big part of the students' lives; imagine the courage that it would take for a 15- year-old who does not even own a bicycle to commit to riding 280 miles in one week (with some days in excess of 50 miles), while far from home.

• The students had to commit to work on raising funds for six months or more, and train together and study together. They needed to agree to maintain a journal and to participate in nightly discussions with three adults. This tour included academic credit and it meant making a commitment to certain activities that are not all fun and games after a long day on a bike.

• The students had to turn in all of their electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, games, etc.) and open themselves up to new experiences and a different way of recreating in their free time.

• Imagine a parent (non-cyclist) finding the courage to allow his or her son or daughter to leave their neighborhood, travel to Ohio, and bicycle on the open roads.

Now, think of the teachers and adult volunteers from the Bronx who also had to stretch outside their comfort zones:

• Could the adult participants keep a group like this safe for a week on the roadways of Ohio?

• Could they trust the Ohio volunteer who they have never met (at least in year one)?

• Could they raise enough money to really make this trip happen?

• Where would they find bicycles that fit for all of the students?

• How could they get all of the students and their bicycles to Ohio and back home again?

• Would this trip really be worth all of the effort?

Consider the Ohio hosts such as the Zion Lutheran Church in West Jefferson:

• Should they open their church building to a group of urban teenagers who they did not know?

• Should they leave their church unlocked overnight and could they trust this group of people (who they had not previously met) to take care of their church property?

• Should they invite members of the congregation in their rural community to mingle with this group of teenagers and their adult leaders?

This tour has happened for the fourth straight year because of all of the people above who found the courage to say “YES” to stretching themselves beyond their comfort zones. Together we created an experience that can only be described as magic, which is why -- despite all of the effort it takes -- this tour has continued to roll. Perhaps the most remarkable part of our journey is that we have become a family, and we keep in touch long after our trips have ended. Many of the students from our inaugural tour are now in college and many of them stay in touch with me via email and social networking. It makes me smile every time I hear from one of them.

To the students, teachers, and Bronx Lab School volunteers: Thank you for inviting me to share in your adventure, and thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience personal growth. To all of the volunteers in Ohio who have helped to host our group in churches, museums, safe houses, and campgrounds: Citizens and small-town mayors, thank you for your warm welcome and for helping to make this trip possible. To the Adventure Cycling Association and The Center for Minority Health at The University of Pittsburgh: Thank you for creating the route that inspired our trip, and thank you for putting me in touch with this remarkable group of students and teachers.


Thanks Chuck for all you do! You can read more about the trip from the students themselves by visiting their blog.

Photos by Joaquin David

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CONNECTIONS is posted by Ginny Sullivan, Adventure Cycling's special projects director and features the cultural, historical, geographical, and human connections created through bike travel. Find out about our award-winning Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Leadership Advice and Recipes from the Bikecentennial Archives

Did you know that this summer marks the 35th anniversary of the event that kick-started Adventure Cycling Association, Bikecentennial '76? We're not making too much of a fuss about it (coral jewelry gets lost so easily on bike tours!), but there have been exciting ideas rumbling around the office for our 40th anniversary in 2016.

To start getting our members and fans all warmed up for our big 4-0, we've uncovered a couple of early Bikecentennial books! These should be of interest to cyclists from veteran Bikecentennial riders to those about to embark on their first bike overnight. In fact, we love these titles so much we want to share them, which is why we're making them available to our community in PDF format!

Bikecentennial Leader's Manual -- 1975 (PDF)
This guide was provided to all group leaders in preparation for Bikecentennial '76. A fundamental document, it has since evolved into Adventure Cycling's Leadership Training Course, which all of our tour leaders are required to take today.

The Bicycle Tourist's Cookbook -- 1979 (PDF)
A great beginner's guide to feeding yourself -- and nine other cyclists -- while on the road. Provides logistical advice, nutritious recipes, and reminders of simple things you may have forgotten about, such as "the bicyclist's friend," GORP! (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts)

In their original printed format, both books are lightweight and shaped to fit easily into a back pocket or handlebar bag. Extremely utilitarian. Important in bike touring, the books are space conscious, but there's still room to have a little fun, as demonstrated by quirky illustrations by Greg Siple that pepper the text.

Not only are these books interesting as a glimpse into life in the 1970s (hamburger is used a lot more in the cookbook than I think it would be today), they're also educational! Consider this inspirational section about leadership found in the Bikecentennial Leaders' Manual:

"Leadership and rapport are almost synonymous. It is through talking and listening that problems come to the surface and are solved, fears are dispelled, emergency situations avoided, and information conveyed ... It is the leader's task to bring individuals together so that they are working as a team and recognize group needs as well as their own."

We hope you enjoy these reads as much as we have. And let us know if you have any suggestions on what we should do for our 40th anniversary!

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BACKSTORIES is written by Heather Andrews, publications intern. By sifting through the Adventure Cycling archives, in this series Heather presents interesting and unusual documents that illuminate the organization's history.

First Aid Kits

There's a new mountain bike course here in Missoula and we're all having fun getting out on it! However, with the large number of scary bumps and crazy pitches, I've been adding something else to my usual carry-along stock of tubes, tire levers, etc. After a nasty little spill awhile ago, I've decided to carry a basic first-aid kit with me as well.
The Ultralight Medical Kit has everything you need for the most common biking injuries, and it comes in a nice, watertight case. When I run out of band-aids or first aid cream, I just replenish them! I know it can seem like extra trouble to carry a first aid kit, but when the need arises, you'll always be glad you have it.

Photo number 1 by Tom Robertson. Photo number 2 by Adventure Medical Kits.

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, sales representative/outreach coordinator/lover of all things outdoors. She also wishes Eddy Merckx was her father (sorry Dad!)

TransAm BBQ

Each year when the two TransAm tours come through Missoula, we throw a BBQ in our courtyard for the groups. Here are a few pictures of this year's celebration with the TransAm self-contained trip. Led by Sally Fenton, this tour had participants who hailed from around the globe, including Canada, the Netherlands, and the UK.

This Tuesday we will be throwing another BBQ for the TransAm van-supported trip led by Glen Graham and Peter Kim. Ride on!

Photos by Greg Siple

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Steve -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's tours department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.

Balancing Life with Cycling

From my own personal experience, I have found that cycling can lead to a person being somewhat greedy as far as time is concerned. Getting out for a quick ride might take 1-2 hours, and long ride could span 4-5 hours. With bicycle touring, all of a sudden you are looking at a full weekend, or perhaps dipping into your vacation time. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing wrong with any of this, but when you start mixing in friend and family commitments, precious weekends start to disappear.

Over the years, I've learned to compromise and find ways to involve cycling with other activities. For instance, my girlfriend loves to go on overnight backpacking trips on the weekends, but also loves riding. The simple solution there is to load up our backpacks and camping gear into a trailer, and bike to the trail head. Once at the trail head, we lock up the bikes and trailers, switch from cycling shoes to hiking shoes, and start hiking.

For other ideas, maybe you could plan a bike tour around a family event, such as a reunion or wedding. Riding out to a sporting event or festival can also be a great way to involve friends and/or family. However you choose to make it work, it is a great way to introduce people to cycling, and introduce yourself to some new experiences as well.

Photo by Josh Tack

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of Adventure Cycling's member services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

My Favorite Map

The world has gone digital. Albums became CDs, which became MP3s. Books have been digitized. Even mine has. Many cyclists prefer to use their GPS than having to carry paper maps.

But just as I love the look of an album cover and the smell of a printed book, I adore maps. Physical maps. Maps that fold and sometimes tear. Maps that wear the dirt and grease smudges of adventurous travels. Maps of places I dream to travel that I can pin up on my wall. Every trip I've ever taken has begun with my gazing at a map.

But of all the maps I have (and I have boxes full of them), I do have a favorite. It is no bigger than three by four inches. It was drawn for me by a man I met on the road in South Africa. He was trying to describe which route I should take. I kept getting confused with his instructions. He pointed to my small notebook and asked for a pen.

After a couple of minutes he handed it back to me. A little piece of art with the information I needed. There was me on my bike, the town I should sleep in, and the way to the Tugela Valley.

But that was many years ago. Today, no matter where I travel, a local is more likely to pull me inside to their computer and bring up Google maps than to draw one in my notebook. That's pretty amazing.

But I still miss the feel of a map.

Image: South Africa--1995 scanned from Willie Weir's notebook

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

The Fire Map: Adventure Cycling's Hottest New Resource

Our routes & mapping and IT teams have collaborated to create a new resource for cyclists touring on the Adventure Cycling Route Network: linked at the our temporary road closures page is the new Adventure Cycling Fire Map. (You can also find the "Forest Fire Map" link on the right hand navigation of all our route pages on our website.)

Every year, a few of our routes are affected by forest fires, usually when the smoke reduces visibility to the point where local authorities close the roads. This new tool utilizes a Google map which has been overlaid with the entire Adventure Cycling Route Network. In addition, the map is linked to the United States Forest Service GeoMAC fire incident database.

The perimeters of every fire in the U.S. are updated daily, and displayed on the map with our routes. Riders can easily zoom-in to fires near their route and click on the fire icon to get more information. The link in the balloon will direct users to a website with the latest status of the fire. If there is a closure on the intended route, contact information can be utilized to call local agencies for detour information. There is also information on wind direction and speed, which can be used to estimate smoke coverage.

This new resource should help cyclists plan ahead and avoid delays imposed by natural disasters. We hope to add flood, weather and snow depth overlays in the future, making the map even more useful. Please give the new Adventure Cycling Fire Map a try and let us know what you think.

Cheers, and enjoy your ride!

Photo by Alaskan Type I Incident Management Team. Photographer: John McColgan, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service.

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A special GEOPOINTS BULLETIN posted by Alison Riley.

Routes & Maps Twitter Update

Last summer when we first announced that our routes & mapping department was embracing Twitter and encouraging the use of route-specific hashtags, I was a bit apprehensive. Not knowing exactly what to expect or how much time it would take, I posted tidbits and waited. Over the course of the 2010 touring season a few questions came in, there was a sprinkling of tweets in the hashtag feeds and our follower count grew along with my confidence in the technology. It was fun to check in daily to see who else was showing up.

Today, it's even better. We have over 1,000 followers and over 2,500 tweets! As @acaroutes, I field questions regularly and engage in conversations about our routes, share links to items I believe to be of interest to traveling cyclists, and follow our route hashtag feeds.

Cyclists are using our route hashtags to report their food recommendations, lodging updates, campground experiences, and bike shop kudos as well as links to blog posts and pictures. I could spend much of my day exploring every one of those tweets. In reality, I respond to as many of them as practical, follow up on route updates, and retweet from our followers.

The busiest feeds right now are the TransAmerica Trail, Northern Tier, and Pacific Coast routes. They are another great way to tour vicariously, and gather inspiration for your own trip.

If all this talk of Twitter, hashtags, followers, and retweets has you a bit befuddled, be sure to check our initial post on the topic for clarification.

P.S. I'm taking a break next week. I'll be back with a new post the following week; see you then!

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Meet Mark Pooley: Working on U.S. Bike Route 40 through Iowa

Today I would like to introduce you to Mark Pooley. Mark is laying the groundwork for the development of U.S. Bicycle Route 40 (USBR 40) across Iowa. Iowa in the unique position of having almost too many great options for cross-state routing, considering all the RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) routes and its trail initiatives. With the assistance of Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Mark Pooley has developed a strategy that will yield a great route with many options for bike travelers, including spurs into cities and to other destinations. Here's more in his words:

How did you first hear about the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS)?
I first heard about the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) when working for the American Youth Foundation (AYF) in 2007. I was leading a sea kayaking trip for the AYF, but before leaving, I helped repair all their bikes for the bike trips and spent many late nights with the leaders talking about cycle touring. They were talking about Adventure Cycling Association maps, and how great it would be to see more U.S. Bike Routes come to fruition.

Since then I've become more interested in cycling advocacy and have been commuting by bicycle for the last year while living in Minneapolis, and now on the farm in Iowa.

What made you want to get involved?
I wanted to get involved due to my affinity for cycling, and my educational and career goals. I will be starting a master's program in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Iowa this fall (where I'll focus on transportation planning, specifically bicycle and pedestrian), and thought this project would be a great way to learn more about the field while reacquainting myself with Iowa City. I met with Mr. Wyatt this past winter when I decided to attend Iowa and brought up the idea of working with the Iowa Bicycle Coalition this summer, and this project just worked out!

I'm also really drawn to the idea of building a network of navigable routes for cyclists to use safely while touring our country. Furthermore, I think it will draw positive attention to cycling efforts and cycling as a viable source of transportation. (Editor's note: Check out the mapped 40,699 mile network already available to cyclists: the Adventure Cycling Route Network.)

How are you involved?
I've been working out potential route ideas using past RAGBRAI routes, and county traffic maps to plan the best route options I can. I've developed three good route options for the state and we will be discussing the benefits of each with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

What do you think is Iowa’s best opportunities for U.S. Bike Routes?
We have our ingress for Iowa set in Sioux City, as this is where USBR 40 exits South Dakota. I've been working routes that best fit the Adventure Cycling criteria (pdf) and have developed a very direct route through northern Iowa that has great scenic elements to it and passes through small and medium-sized cities. I recently pedaled a stretch of this route and it was a blast!
The local people were friendly and knowledgeable of the area(s). The other route segments I've pedaled have all been great, as well. I love Iowan hospitality and generosity. People have opened up their yards, homes, and minds to help us plan some great route options for the state.

Why do you think communities would want to be on a U.S. Bike Route? What are the advantages for them?
I think communities would enjoy being on an established U.S. Bike Route for the interesting people that would be passing through. Cyclists touring across the country won't bring in a huge influx of tourism dollars, but they will add to the charm and atmosphere many of these small towns already have. Having visited numerous towns along our route options, I've enjoyed visiting the small eateries, coffee houses, and bike shops. Many of the towns on our route(s) are very easy to navigate and welcoming when being approached on two wheels. Furthermore, some of the small towns along our routes are making great strides in cycling advocacy and would "showcase" Iowa's dedication to cycling infrastructure well.

Tell us about the organization you work for/represent and how you plan to work with the state DOT?
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit that works for cycling advocacy and safety. We help communities with anything and everything from complete streets to getting bike lanes or "sharrows" proposed.We want to work in concert with the Iowa DOT and do as much work for them as we possibly can. We have a good relationship with the Iowa DOT and hope to build on that foundation for the success of the Iowa portion of USBR 40

What is your long-term hope for this national system?
My long-term hope is for the system to develop quickly, encouraging individuals and families to take to the open road on two wheels to see our country. Cycle touring is the best way to really experience our country, and a complete U.S. Bike Route System will make planning and navigating a cross country tour much easier.

Thanks Mark for all your work in Iowa! We're looking forward to see the route complete.

Photo by Mark Pooley

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Corn Fritters: An Easy Bicycle Touring Meal

Corn fritters are one of my favourite meals to make while bicycle touring. They're super easy, the ingredients can be found everywhere, and they make a refreshing change from the cyclist's staple meal of pasta and tomato sauce.

Here's the recipe I use. It makes enough for 2 hungry cyclists. In addition to the ingredients, you'll need a small non-stick frying pan and a spatula (both essentials in my bike touring kitchen).

Ingredients:

• 1 (300 g) can whole kernel corn
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup flour*
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 4 tablespoons oil*
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar*
• 1 small bag of pre-washed salad

*These items can be difficult to buy in small quantities at the supermarket. But they're very useful for camp cooking, so I always bring a little from home in tight-sealing jars.

Steps:

1. Beat the eggs in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add the flour and baking powder, and whisk until smooth. Drain the corn and tip it into the egg and flour mixture, along with the cheese. Mix well.

2. Put half the oil in a non-stick frying pan and heat until the oil is good and hot. Drop the corn mixture in spoonfuls into frypan. When the fritters are golden on one side, turn and cook the other side.

3. Fill both plates with salad and drizzle over a bit of oil and vinegar. Put the corn fritters on top and enjoy. They are great on their own or dipped in Thai sweet chili sauce, if you can find it.

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FRIEDEL GRANT launched into bike touring with a tour around the world with her husband. They pedaled 48,000km through 30 countries before settling down to ride bikes in The Netherlands. Friedel writes about bike touring on her website, Travelling Two, has published the Bike Touring Survival Guide and written a chapter for the Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook.

Drink It Up

Summer is here. I was reminded of this in full force when I nearly passed out while mountain biking during a 92-degree afternoon at the beginning of the week. Yikes! We need to drink a lot! And, while water is of utmost importance, sometimes it's nice to drink things that aren't just plain water, too. Salt and electrolytes are important when we're sweating a lot, and besides ... who doesn't want to change up the flavor occasionally?

The thing is that sports drinks can be really loaded with food coloring and sugars, plus they can be really expensive. So I've started using this recipe to make my own (from www.momsteam.com), and I like it a lot!

• 1/2 can frozen orange juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• Water to make 2 liters

Mix in a glass jug and pour into your favorite reusable bottles. For more sport nutrition information, check out Nancy Clark's Cyclist's Food Guide: Fueling for the Distance.

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SHIPPING NEWS is brought to you by Sarah Raz, sales representative/outreach coordinator/lover of all things outdoors. She also wishes Eddy Merckx was her father (sorry Dad!)

Historical Bike Routes: The Possibilities Are Endless!

Have you ever been on a historical bike ride? There's nothing like learning a little something while also enjoying a good ride and some company. There are tons of opportunities for a themed ride focusing on local, national, or even international history topics! If you have children, it could even be an opportunity for education over their summer break.

One of the most memorable historical bike rides I've been on was Portland's Dead Freeways Ride, led by my friend Shawn, who recently visited the ACA office on the cross-continent adventure he's currently undertaking with his girlfriend April.

Here at Adventure Cycling, we've got some exciting historic routes for tourists to choose from, with even more in development:

• The Lewis and Clark Bicycle Trail traces the intrepid explorers from where the Corps of Discovery prepared for their journey in Hartford, Illinois; to the famous turnaround in Seaside, Oregon. Many of us know the basics of the expedition, but by biking this route you can relive the drama of their travels at a slow pace. The most thorough history buffs may want to read the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition online as they travel, while kids may prefer the alternative perspective offered by Seaman's Journal.

• Follow the drinking gourd to journey north along the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Highlights include a former slave market in Mobile, Alabama; the Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Quaker safe houses; and Civil War battlefields. In August, Routes and Mapping will be releasing a Detroit spur, reflecting the decentralized nature of the Underground Railroad, and adding options for interested bike travelers. If I were going on a long bike tour, this is totally the one I would choose.

• Soon, you'll be able to make that California trip along the Route 66 Bicycle Route, currently under development. Route 66, aka the "Mother Road," began as one of the nation's first highways for cars, and was integral in westward migration during the Great Depression. The new route will use sections of the actual highway when possible, and provide many opportunities for touring cyclists to get familiar with the many small communities along the way. Watch the blog for Route 66 updates as a release date nears!

Another possibility: consider crafting your own alternate off of an existing Adventure Cycling route. Perhaps you could chart an Elvis-themed alternate to the Great Rivers Bicycle Route, detouring to Nashville and Memphis for some sightseeing, then rejoining the main route in Elvis' birthplace of Tupelo, Mississippi? Have you considered leading a truth-seeking jaunt to Roswell off the Southern Tier? How about organizing a Laura Ingalls Wilder ride off the Northern Tier or TransAm?

Have you done any of these tours, or created one of your own? Tell us about it!


Photo: Michigan Street Baptist Church, a well known safe house on the Underground Railroad in Buffalo, NY.

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BACKSTORIES is written by Heather Andrews, publications intern. By sifting through the Adventure Cycling archives, in this series Heather presents interesting and unusual documents that illuminate the organization's history.

Tours: Be a Kid Again!

Another fantastic event tour with Adventure Cycling in the form of Cycle Utah is now a set of wonderful memories. An amazing staff, great location and camaraderie, splendid food, and perfect weather made this trip feel like a dream. Floating through the southwest landscape on two wheels, visiting Zion and Bryce National parks, and a 10 mile thrilling down hill into Cedar City made this trip a true Adventure Cycling classic.

I went with a friend, but made many more while on the tour, an easy endeavor since they were all essentially my tribe; people who love to bike, share stories, are open to new adventures, and like to eat great food. Being on an Adventure Cycling tour is like being a kid again; you hang out with your friends, ride bikes all day, and come home when dinner is served.



So what are you doing for your summer vacation? Don't fret, there's still time to sign up for high-adventure, we still have several fully-supported tours with openings. Here is a quick list to get you olly-olly-oxen freeing:

Cycle Vermont
Oregon Coastal Odyssey
Freedom Flyer
Sierra Sampler
Great Lakes Relaxed
C &O Canal/GAP

O.K., I couldn't resit this parting shot, the hardest thing about the tour for me was waking up in the morning, and as you can see by the photo below I'm not really a morning person, as this is essentially what I look like and truly how I feel at 7 am.


What are you waiting for, be a kid, find the fountain in the form of Adventure Cycling's guided tours!

Middle Photo Courtesy of John Veilleux
Other Photos Courtesy of mo

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Steve -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's tours department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.

2 Weeks on the Great TransAm Divide

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." -- John Steinbeck

And so it went with my recent planned adventure on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Due to a combination of 1) certain sections of the route in Wyoming still being closed for snow and 2) the tiny matter of some small kidney stones (think hospital emergency room in Lander, Wyo.), I ended up riding a hybrid route comprising sections of both the Great Divide and the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.

My ride took me from from Bannack, Montana, to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, over a mix of dirt and pavement. It's a trip I would recommend to anyone. Luckily, the sections of the Great Divide I missed are some I've ridden in the past. And by detouring onto the TransAm I had the opportunity to meet some road cyclists whom I would have missed otherwise. (It also compelled me to make three Continental Divide crossings in Yellowstone that I would have missed on the Great Divide.)

We hear so much about how great the locals are who live along our routes, which is true. What we hear less about is how great some of cyclists sharing our routes are, which is also true. Riders like semi-retired minister and national Lutheran Church fundraiser John Cross, who pedaled the Southern Tier earlier this year and is now riding the TransAm. And a federal police officer (whose name and website I will find and report on later), who is riding the TransAm to raise money for cancer research. I ran into both of these fellows between Jackson Hole and Togwotee Pass, along a stretch of pavement that happens to serve as both the Great Divide and the TransAm. 

Back along the dirt roads of the Great Divide, on three occasions in and around southwest Montana's Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge I encountered Tour Divide racers heading north. Amazingly, I also ran in Dr. Greg and Susie Rice (below) of Libby, Montana, folks I knew while living up in northwest Montana 30 years ago, but hadn't seen since. This was their ninth outing aboard their Santana tandem on the Great Divide in Montana. They planned to reach the town of Lima the next day, which would complete their quest to bike all of the Big Sky State's contribution to the Great Divide.

Later, after joining up with my friends Ramsey and Teri at South Pass, Wyoming, the three of us began encountering a string of foreign riders heading north. First it was a Scottish couple, Phil and Isla (pronounced "EYE-la," like the peatiest of Scotch whiskies), who had ridden 9,000 miles over the course of the previous ten months, beginning in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The friendly and energetic couple are capping their adventure by following the Great Divide to Banff, Alberta (and looking forward greatly to beers there). Next up was Poul, from Denmark, with whom we shared a camping site at the high and dry A&M Reservoir in the Great Divide Basin.

Finally, we ran into Roel (above), a rough and ruddy rider from the Netherlands who was not only pulling a BOB trailer, but was loaded down with front and rear panniers and a huge stack of stuff piled atop his rear rack.

What a privilege and joy it was (and is), getting out on the Adventure Cycling routes and meeting up with a few of the people whose lives we influence by doing what we do.

Photos by Michael McCoy.


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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that — just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to more than 41,000 readers worldwide.

Quick Tips for Dealing with Summer Heat

After a long winter up in Montana, we're pretty excited to have some summer weather. But while I love taking advantage of the warm weather, a long day in the saddle under the hot sun can really take its toll, and I often find myself looking forward to the temperature dropping back down. Fortunately, there are a lot of little things you can do to keep your cool and enjoy the summer sun at the same time. I actually wrote a post about this a few years back, but sometimes it's good to revisit an important topic such as this.

My previous post on this topic focused on hydration, riding at cooler times of the day, and finding routes that are inherently cooler due to shade or topography. For this post, I'll check out some smaller details that might give you more freedom to ride where you want, when you want--and won't require a lot of extra effort.

1. Ice is Nice! When you stop at a gas station or convenience store to top off your water bottles, hit the ice dispenser on your way out. I like to drop a few cubes into the water bottles to keep the water cold for a few extra miles, and then toss a handful of ice cubes in my jersey pockets to help keep my body temperature down. It's nothing that will last for a long haul, but it's highly refreshing for the short time that it lasts. If you can think of it ahead of time, you can also freeze a couple of water bottles the day before your ride, and toss them in your back pocket when you head out (frozen bottles tend to rattle around a lot in bottle cages).

2. Soaking the jersey in cold water can really knock down the body temperature and make you feel rejuvenated when the heat is bearing down hard. This is a trick I picked up after moving to Montana, where the streams run clear and cold. Back in my hometown stomping grounds of Iowa, the slow moving, muddy water was a little less inviting.

3. Take your breaks in the shade. This seems super simple, but I always have to remind myself to roll a few extra feet to grab some shade under a tree while I'm taking a rest stop, or perhaps fixing a flat. Sitting stationary in the sun when you're already heating up can really hit you hard.

4. Don't forget sunscreen. Aside from limiting the risk of a nasty sunburn, it can keep your skin hydrated, which can help prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin too quickly. Sport-specific formulas are great since they don't run off too quickly when you sweat.

5. Wear sunglasses. They might not make you feel cooler, but they have the potential of making you look cooler. More importantly, they help prevent squinting in the sun; this not only improves your vision, but can actually make you feel fresher (surprisingly, squinting can take a fair amount of energy out of you over the course of a few hours).

Photo by Sarah Raz

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of Adventure Cycling's member services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Saturation

I live in the insanely beautiful Pacific Northwest. Due to our cloudy skies and somewhat damp weather (even in July), the color pallet can be quite muted — dark greens, blues, and greys.

So when I travel, I am drawn to the opposite. The rich and vibrant, almost electric colors that you will find on the houses in Cuba, in the shops in Bangkok, and in the markets in India.

The photo above was taken in a small mountain town in Colombia. We were looking for a place to park our bikes at the guest house and stumbled across this scene. It looked as if a cement truck filled with paint had backed up and unleashed a river of pigment.

The simple household items — brooms, dustpan, and hose — were elevated to art on this wall. The already bright blue hose was now painfully blue in contrast to its backdrop. The brooms appeared to have magical qualities. Perhaps we could ride them out of town instead of our bikes? The red spattered drain suggested that fresh paint was sprayed on nightly (probably with the bright blue hose) after everyone was asleep.

If I close my eyes I have a hard time remembering what the rest of the guest house looked like, or even the town. But I will always remember the wall.

Photo: Colombia--2008 by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS appears on Friday afternoons. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their local adventures and life without a car at http://YellowTentAdventures.com/.

A Warm Showers Experience

Almost two weeks ago, my husband and I took Ginny Sullivan's words to heart in her Warm Showers: Why I Host (and You Should, Too) post and invited Louise and Kerstin -- the two traveling cyclists pictured above -- to share the Fourth of July holiday weekend with us.

They landed in Seattle, Washington, from Sydney, Australia 20-some days before arriving in Missoula. Louise is Australian by birth and Kerstin is Swiss though she now calls Australia home. Their end destination for this trip is Boston, Massachusetts, via Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a jaunt into Canada. The route they've chosen mixes and matches the Adventure Cycling Route Network, including sections of the TransAmerica Trail, Lake Erie Connector, Northern Tier, and Atlantic Coast routes, and some routing they've devised on their own.

They have given themselves four months to travel 4,857 miles (7,297 km). If they pedaled every day, they would average just under 55 km/day. There is plenty of wiggle room in those numbers to enjoy some rest days and take on adventures and new experiences as they arise. We're sure with their winning smiles, they will have many opportunities offered them.

Outside of showing off our corner of the world, including an authentic pow wow and the National Bison Range, we learned much about the world outside of the U.S. from Louise and Kerstin. Our conversations have left us itching to explore and travel again ourselves. We feel as though we've made two new friends for life. It was truly a great experience, the weekend a highlight of our summer to be sure. I heartily echo Ginny and encourage all of you to give it a shot. Check out WarmShowers.org.

Photo courtesy of Kerstin and Louise

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

What Losing Dedicated Bike Funding Means

Last week, the bicycling community sent out an urgent action alert regarding the next Federal Transportation bill. Everyone who cares about biking and walking was asked to contact their national representatives and urge them to contact key House and Senate decision makers regarding saving dedicated bicycle and pedestrian funding.

Now I'm not talking about a lot of money here. The bicycling community knows the state of national affairs and that the overall budget will be significantly reduced. What we're asking is for the continuation of dedicated funds, with a proportional cut equivalent to the overall reduction. If we lose dedicated funding, things as we know it will change dramatically.

But, what does that mean to you and me?


Does it mean that the trail you've been working on won't be completed?


Does it mean that the road you love riding won't have shoulders added when it comes up for maintenance?

Does it mean the bridge over the river won't have a place to walk or ride your bike?

Does it mean your children or grandchildren won't be able to safely walk or ride their bike to school?

The possible answer to all these questions is "yes!"

And what does it mean to the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) specifically?

We will likely lose our go-to people at the state Departments of Transportation; the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator may no longer be a mandated position.

We will lose the grant programs that provide accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities -- that includes adding shoulders to roads, building multi-use trails and/or side paths, providing bike lanes and sidewalks.

We will also lose momentum. Without programs that help leverage dollars and efforts that allow transportation agencies to accommodate all users, the projects that improve our way of life in our backyards -- and those in the places we like to visit will be severely impacted.

This is it. We need you now. Please help save these essential programs. Call or email your representative today and ask them to save dedicated funding for biking and walking.

Photo of Dr. Paul Dudley White Charles River Bike Path in Boston courtesy of the East Coast Greenway Alliance; Shoulder-less Georgia bike route photo by Byron Rushing; Chattanooga bridge photo by Ginny Sullivan; Lolo path/Safe Route to School photo by Jean Belangie-Nye.

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Best Eateries on the TransAm

I put out a call a few weeks back for your input on the best eateries on the TransAmerica Trail and here are the results!

Jim Hammond sent me an email almost immediately voting for the Cassoday Cafe in Cassoday, Kansas (pictured above). "Great buffet! But you need to get there
by about 3:00. All the lemonade you can drink and great pies and cakes. Friendly folks!"

Susan Renee Smith recommends the Manatee Cafe near St. Augustine, (on Highway 16, east of I-95, about 3 miles from the Atlantic Ocean). Why? "Excellent, fresh-made organic food meals, veggie omelettes, breakfast burritos, chicken burritos, salads, fruit bowl, yummy coffee, fresh orange or veggie juices. Open 'til 4pm -- same menu all day. "

Neil Smith offered, "The steak house, Lolo springs, ate there on 2008 cross America ride. Wow...the best steak house in the world..." Mmmmm ... steak...

Three great suggestions sounds like ... but there's gotta be more ... the TransAm spans more than 4,000 miles coast to coast. So, show your favorite eatery some love by sharing its name, website, and why it was so amazing, in the comments below.

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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via email: pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.

Annie Londonderry: Pioneering Adventure Cyclist

Touring cyclists who come through Adventure Cycling's world headquarters are often men, but we love welcoming journeying women as well. Women, if you're reading this and haven't traveled by bike just yet, perhaps you'll find the story of Annie Londonderry inspiring and give it a shot.

The story goes like this: a few years after Thomas Stevens (pdf) completed his around-the-world bike journey in 1886, two wealthy gentlemen in Boston were disputing whether the same feat could be done by a woman. A steep wager was agreed upon, and Annie Kopchovsky was selected as the test subject.

Annie was a mother of young children, and had never ridden a bicycle before.

The rules dictated that she start her ride without money, yet make $5000 above expenses during her journey. The trek would need to be completed in 15 months.

As soon as she began, it was clear that Annie was resourceful enough to complete the trip: she had secured a sponsorship from Londonderry Lithia Spring Water, who paid her to hang an advertisement on her bike and adopt the "Londonderry" moniker.

Setting off from Boston on June 25, 1894, she first headed west, but after four months, reversed direction in Chicago due to the looming winter. In Chicago she obtained a bike 20 pounds lighter than her own, as well as a pair of bloomers which were instrumental in the completion of her journey.

Clever Annie combined her bike travel with many ocean liner trips, which saved precious time against her deadline. On the road she also became a master showman, staging dramatic photos and relating tall tales to the local newspaper in whichever city or town she was staying. The enormous buzz she created for herself attracted more sponsorship agreements to fund her way as she traveled.

Did she make it? Of course she did! She finished in Chicago on September 12, 1895, collecting a large sum of prize money as well as proving that in cycling, as elsewhere, women can do anything.

Annie has inspired an article in Bicycling Magazine (pdf), a book about her travels, and a soon-to-be-released documentary. She's just one of the women who have changed the world through bicycling.

Photo: Annie Londonderry paved the way for generations of women cyclists, like this woman cycling the French countryside in 1900. Photo by Bibliotheque de Toulouse on Flickr Commons.

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BACKSTORIES is written by Heather Andrews, publications intern. Sifting through the Adventure Cycling archives, the series presents interesting and unusual documents that illuminate the organization's history.